Hedge-trimmer.



PJMFNTLD JAN. 13', 1 903.

I. S. VOORHBES. HEDGE TRIMMER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6,1902.

NO MODEL.

UNIT D STATES PATENT Omen.

FREDERICK SIOKLES VOORHEES, OF FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY.

HEDGE-TRIMMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 718,404, dated Januaryg 13, 1903. Application filed September 6, 1802- Serial No. 122,398.(No-model.)

siding at Freehold, in the county of Monmouth and State of NewJersey,have invented new and useful Improvements in Hedge-Trimmers, of whichthe following is aspecitication.

This invention relates to a hedge-trimmer adapted also for general use,such as a horseclipper; and the primary object of the same is to providea positively-operating device of this class which can be convenientlyhandled and having a simple and effective construction.

The invention will be more fully hereinafter described an claimed.

. In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the improved trimmeror clipper, showing parts thereof in a dilferentposition in dottedlines. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a do tail perspective view of a portion of the backv Similarnumerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts inthe several views.

The numeral 1 designates a back or supporting bar, to which the tang 2of a stationary handle or grip 3 is secured. Projecting 'forwardlyfromthe bar 1 are a plurality of fingers 4, regularly spaced'apart from eachother and rendered rigid by a connecting-bar 5. Slidably mounted on thefingers 4 is a cutter 6, comprising a series of V-shaped cutting members7, and secured to the bar'l and pro-,

jecti'ng over the rear edge portion of the cutter 6 are retention-clips8, which hold the cutter in close relation to the fingers 4. As

shown by Fig. 2, the rear edge 9 of the cutter is shouldered to overlapthe front edge of the bar 1, so as to forma slight open space betweenthe contiguous faces of the cutting members 7 and the fingers etin orderthat the cutting operation may be practically carried on. At the centerofthe upper side of the I consists in the construction' and arrangementof the several parts, which bar l'a crank 10 is movably'attached an?comprises ahead ll, having a part thereo adjacent to the bar 1 formedwithteeth I2 to provide a pinion integral with the crank, and from thehead 11 a crank-arm 13 extends a suitable distance. Thecrank 10 ispi'votally secured to the bar-l by a pivot-screw 14, passed through thehead 11, the bar 1, and the forward end of. the'tang 2 of the hand-1e 3,the said pivot-screw thus serving to .connect the handle 3 to the bar 1.end of the crank-arm 13 one end of a con-- necting-bar 15 is pivotallyattached and is To the free also movably secured to one end of' thecutter 6, the said connecting-bar moving closely over the side of the'arm'13 in the operation of the device. On the tang 2 an oscillatable'handle-bar 16 is pivotally mounted and has a grip 17 secured to therear terminal thereof. The

front extremity of thebar 16 is enlarged and formed as a toothed segment18,which is held in continual mesh with the pinion l2, form-' disposedat a rearwardly-divergent angle rela-' I tively to the handle 3.

The parts are so proportioned that when the handle 17 and bar 16 aremoved into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 the cutter 6will have been moved over the fingers 4 i and returned to the positionshown by Fig.1. This operation is due to the provision of the crank-arml3 and the attachment of the con meeting-bar 15 to the free end thereof,and the same movement will be imparted to the cutter 6 by returning thehandle-bar 16 and handle 17 from the position shown in dotted lines inFig. lto the full-line position of the said parts, and a continuousoscillation of the bar '16 and handle 17 willset up a rapid movement ofthe cutter 6 and permit a hedge trimming or'clipping operation to berapidly andefiect ively carried on. k i

The ad vantages of the present construction are numerous, and amongothers maybe mentioned the positive operation of the cutter bytheoscillation of the segment 18 and with less I plurality of cutting orknife members. It will crank devices to extend thereover.

tiresome effect on the operator in contradistinction to the annoyanceand inconvenience incident to that class of hedge trimmers and clipperswhich have a rotary crank and cooperating devices for actuatingthe hame,

Another advantage is the integral formation of the head 11 with thepinion 12, so that the crank and pinion maybe simultaneously applied bythe use of a single fastening or pivot screw 1 A further advantageresides in the simp'licity of the several parts and the ease with whichthey can be assembled in operative relation and, furthermore, in makingthe cutter of one piece and providing the same with a also be seen thatthrough the medium of the connecting-bar 15,which exerts a steady movement of the cutterd without tendency to force the latter outwardfrom thebar 1, the num-' her of parts ordinarily required for holding a cutterin relation to fingers is materially re duced. I An additional means forrendering the improved device more practical and better adapted for thepurpose for which it has been devised consists in the shield or cover19, which surrounds the pinion 11 and the gear 18 to prevent thebranches and twigs or short pieces of material falling into and cloggingthe teeth of the gear and obstructing the free movement of the saidparts. The shield or. cover 19 has segmental projections which are ofsuch length as to compensate for the oscillating movement of the'gear18, and only extends upwardly. 2 distance equal to the thickness of thepinion 12, so as to permit the To adapt the improved trimmer or clipperto various uses, changes in the form, proporresorted to without in theleast departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is-.

1. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of asupporting-bar having a se ries of fingers extending therefrom, alongitudinally-sliding cutter held on the saidbar, a handle rigidlyattached to the center of the bar, a crank having an integral pinionpivotally mounted at the center of the upper side of the said bar, aconnecting-bar movably attached at its opposite ends respectively to thecrank and sliding cntter and an oscillatable handle-bar disposed on apart'of the rigid handle and having a grip and a toothed segment, thelatter being held 'in continual mesh with the pinion of the crank.

2. In a device of theclass set forth, the combination of a supportingbarhaving fingers projecting therefrom, a cutterlongitudinally slidable onthe said bar and fingers, a crank pivotally held on the upper side of.the center of the bar-and having an integral pinion member close to thelatter, stationary holding means secured to the center of the bar, anoscillatable handle-bar mounted on the stationary holding means andhaving a tions, dimensions, and minor details may be grip and a segmentmeshing with the pinion member of the crank, a connection between thecrank and the cutter, and a shield surrounding the pinion of the crankunder the connection to the latter and also having projections to extendover the segment forming a part of the oscillatable handle-bar.

In'testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.FREDERICK SICKLES VOORHEES.

Witnesses: v JOSEPH L. DONAHAY,

I. CLARENCE OONOVER.

